麻豆视频

Tayer鈥檚 legacy lives on through nearly $1 million gift to YVC Foundation

Delma Tayer views artwork on display during the in fall 2024.

The late Delma Tayer, a longtime advocate for the arts and former dean at Yakima Valley College, left a lasting mark on the Yakima Valley art community as an artist, educator and former Larson Gallery director.

That legacy will continue in perpetuity through the 麻豆视频 Foundation鈥檚 Tayer Memorial Scholarship Fund. Following her passing in March 2025 at age 101, Tayer left a posthumous donation of nearly $1 million to support that fund and create a new scholarship honoring her late husband and son.

Born in 1924, Tayer moved to Yakima in 1947 after marrying Harold Tayer. She later earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree, two master鈥檚 degrees and completed coursework for an MFA in art at Central Washington University. Tayer taught English, art history and humanities at YVC, eventually chairing the Division of Languages and Literature. From 1985 until her retirement in 1990, she served as dean of Arts and Sciences and directed the Larson Gallery from 1977 to 1989.

When Tayer took over the gallery, it was a volunteer-run space with little funding and faced closure. She helped professionalize operations and founded the Larson Gallery Guild, ensuring the gallery remained a hub for artists and the community.

After retiring, Tayer continued creating art in her Selah home studio.

Yakima Valley Vintners earns top honors in Great Northwest Wine Platinum Awards

Award-winning wines picture in the Yakima Tasting Room.

Yakima Valley Vintners, YVC鈥檚 teaching winery, earned multiple top honors in the 2025-26 Great Northwest Wine Platinum Awards, including three double-platinum awards for its 2024 Bright Idea S茅millon, 2024 Scholaris S茅millon and 2024 Yak Attack Blanc. The 2021 Dean鈥檚 List Malbec also received platinum honors.

Double-gold awards went to the 2024 Alumni Albari帽o and 2024 Yakademic Blend, while the 2021 Final Exam Cabernet Franc earned gold honors.

More than 650 wines were reviewed in this year鈥檚 competition, which awarded 222 platinum medals. YVV now holds five double-platinum and 14 platinum awards overall 鈥� the most of any college in the Pacific Northwest.

All award-winning wines were produced by students in YVC鈥檚 Vineyard & Winery Technology program at the college鈥檚 Grandview Campus. Wines were judged blind alongside commercial wineries by a panel of wine professionals.

O鈥橞rine named Assistant Dean of Health Professions

Stephanie O'Brine

麻豆视频 has appointed Stephanie O鈥橞rine as its new assistant dean of health professions, overseeing allied health programs including Radiologic Sciences and Veterinary Technology.

O鈥橞rine brings more than 17 years of experience in higher education and healthcare instruction. A certified pharmacy technician since 2001, she has taught allied health courses at YVC since 2008 and earned a Master of Education from Western Governors University.

Passionate about empowering students, O鈥橞rine describes education as 鈥渁 catalyst, empowering others to accomplish their dreams and develop a growth mindset.鈥� Her background includes instructional design, curriculum development, academic advising and program leadership.

Owen explores questions of consciousness

Matthew Owen, a philosophy instructor at 麻豆视频 and affiliate faculty member at the University of Michigan鈥檚 Center for Consciousness Science, is examining whether tiny clusters of lab-grown brain cells 鈥� called organoids 鈥� could ever develop consciousness.

In a recent interview with , Owen expressed skepticism, noting that consciousness may require a 鈥渟ubject,鈥� not just neural activity. His research raises important ethical questions as organoid studies expand.

Owen also recently spoke at a Center for Consciousness Science symposium, where he explored the possibility of covert consciousness in human brain organoids.

Rich speaks a ACT conference

Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA 鈥�05, communications consultant.